If you’re not a fan of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots, then this latest news may be disappointing. Meta (formerly known as Facebook) is testing the potential of AI chatbot integration into social media apps, which could spell bad news for those of us trying to keep our distance from anything AI. A leaked screenshot shared by leaker Alessandro Paluzi on Twitter shows what looks like an introductory screen for the new Instagram feature. The chatbots will be able to answer questions, give advice, and help write messages, with users also able to choose between 30 AI personalities and find which one you like best. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stated in February that the company was developing AI personas that can help people in a variety of ways.
If this leak is indeed accurate, Meta would join Snapchat in incorporating AI chatbots onto social media platforms, giving younger (or less tech-savvy) users access to the technology in a way that feels familiar and natural. However, developing these social chatbots poses a challenge in creating a fun chatbot that provides engaging and helpful interactions without straying into offensive or dangerous responses. Snapchat launched its My AI chatbot back in February and received a mixed reaction from users, with some ignoring the bot, while others used it to make jokes and play around.
It is not clear if Meta genuinely intends to launch a similar bot on Instagram or what moderation techniques it will take. There is a fine line to walk when it comes to injecting bots into more and more facets of our digital lives, and more steps need to be taken to ensure they are moderated and provide useful, helpful interactions. As technology advances, we must evaluate whether the benefits of AI chatbots outweigh the potential negative impact on human interaction. For now, we can only speculate on what Meta has in store for us.
